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From Eventbrite:

Jeremy Bentham’s Books in UCL’s Special Collections
UCL Object Based Learning Laboratory, London, 9 October 2024

An event exploring Jeremy Bentham’s book collection and ways in which it continues to shape UCL’s library holdings today.

It has long been known that the 18th-century philosopher Jeremy Bentham bequeathed a number of his books to University College London (known at the time as the London University). But the contents of the bequest and the faith of the books had remained obscure. A recent discovery of an item-by-item list of the books in the UCL library archives by Colin Penman (UCL Head of Records) and a Bentham expert, Professor Tim Causer, sparked a project to uncover some of Bentham’s books in UCL’s rare book collections, overseen by Erika Delbecque (UCL’s Head of Rare Books). Join UCL Special Collections to hear Colin, Tim, and Erika talk about the project, the discoveries made so far, the process of identifying Bentham’s books, and their significance today. The original list of the Bentham’s bequest, along with some of the books from his library (many heavily annotated by Bentham himself), will be on display. The event is free and open to all, but booking is essential.

The UCL guide to the Bentham Book Collection offers a helpful introduction to our holdings as well as information about researching and accessing this collection. You can also read more about our ongoing research into Bentham’s bequest here.

Wednesday, 9 October 2024
3.00–4.00pm | Panel discussion and collections display
4.00–4.30pm | Collections display and refreshments